In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.
Our family hopes this Christmas letter finds all our friends and family doing well. As for us we have managed to survive another year.
I’m beginning to recognize the man that lives at our house and hope to get to know him better in the New Year. In all sincerity I am so thankful for my wonderful husband who has allowed me to spend so much time with Elise over the last few years. I think we both have some wonderful memories that we will carry with us forever.
I completed my 2 year agreement as Girl Scout Service Unit Manager in October and I am now taking a much needed break. Elise has joined her friend Samantha’s troop which now allows me to be just a Girl Scout Mom this year.
Being a Girl Scout taught Elise the importance of volunteering. We were very proud of her when she received her Silver President’s Volunteer Service Award this year for giving over 75 hours of service to her community. She received a pin and certificate signed by President Obama. She helped run a 2 day Girl Scout Daisy Day Camp, mentor a new Daisy troop, spent one day serving cookies during lunch to the homeless at Our Daily Bread, and. spent most of the summer volunteering in the cat room at the Animal Shelter.
Russ made a great Girl Scout Dad this year. He helped us take our troop to the Sea World Adventure Camp in San Antonio. We girls got to sleep with the sharks while he stayed in a hotel on the Riverwalk. On our second night’s stay we all joined him. We were glad we brought him along when one of our girls fell in the river. He had her by the arm and out of it by the time we turned our heads. He earned his life saving patch for that.
With the free time I now have I plan to have a BIG garden…Hay bale garden that is. I tried it this spring and couldn’t believe how easy it is and how well it works. The best part is you don’t have to get down on your knees and dig in the dirt. I had 5 bales of straw this year and raised okra, peppers, tomatoes and cantaloupe. I learned the hard way that cantaloupe don’t like to share, they need at least 3 bales to themselves. I’m going to expand to at least 15 for next year. I may even dig my pressure cooker out of storage and start canning again like I use to.
The next few weeks we will be very busy…working on our troop’s float for the Annual Krum Lighted Christmas Parade, serving hot chocolate at the Aubrey Tree Lighting Festival, Christmas school party and last but not least awaiting the arrival of J.B. (Santa’s magical dog) who always entertains us each year. We can’t wait to see what all he has in store for us. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a little magic…would it.
We hope each of you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Russ, Judy, Elise, Raleigh, Lulu, Adam and Sissy.
